Harney: Heads would roll if HSE were ‘private’

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney has conceded that if the Health Service Executive (HSE) were a private organisation, people would have lost their jobs in light of some of the errors that have been made.

In an interview with the Irish Examiner, Ms Harney said if the data stood up in relation to the number of children who died either in care or after coming into contact with social services, then “serious questions have to arise of course for people who have responsibility, very serious questions”.

Ms Harney acknowledged that the lack of accountability within the HSE, and the fact that no-one was ever seen to be fired for not doing their job, “hugely antagonises and annoys the public,” but that job security was a feature of the public service.